Boren Scholarship - Choosing Your Study Abroad Program

The Boren Scholarship funds the study of language and culture in a
program of your choosing. The Boren Scholarship does not choose a
program for you nor do we recommend or suggest programs. Choosing the
right study abroad program is a matter to be decided in consultation
with your study abroad office, academic advisors, Boren Campus Representative, as well as other trusted sources.

These additional resources and considerations may help you find the right study abroad program.

Resources

Your Home Institution Study Abroad, Financial Aid, and Academic Advisor Office: These offices should be your first resources before and during the application.

Boren Campus Representative: These are home institution staff members who are familiar with the Boren Scholarship and the application process. Click here to find your campus representative.

IIE Passport:
This is an online study abroad directory with more than 7,000 study
abroad programs for you to discuss with your home institution staff. Click here for more information.

The Boren Scholarship Team at IIE: Contact us at boren@iie.org or 800-618-NSEP.

Types of Study Abroad Programs

See
the below list of various types of study abroad programs eligible for
funding through the Boren Scholarship. Remember that the Boren
Scholarship does not fund study in Western Europe, Australia, New
Zealand, or Canada.

U.S. Institution with Its Own Program: Many students enroll in programs run by their own home institution or another university.

U.S. College/University Consortium Program: Some U.S. institutions work collaboratively to offer programs for students from different colleges or universities.

Foreign University/Direct Enrollment:
Some students apply to study at foreign universities, which may have
special programs for international students, or options to direct
enroll.

If you do not see your program type listed above, please contact IIE at boren@iie.org or 1-800-618-6737.

Language Considerations

The
Boren Scholarship requires a language component; therefore, your study
abroad program should incorporate opportunities to learn a language in a
context that is meaningful to your language proficiency and language
learning goals. All study abroad programs do not offer the same
opportunities to learn a language. While considering the following
issues, you may want to consult with your study abroad office and/or a
language instructor from your home institution.

Consider your language background.
If you already have studied the language, you should consider what
opportunities a particular program will provide for you to advance your
proficiency. If you have not studied the language, you should consider
which program offers you the best opportunities to make substantial
progress.

Consider language learning coursework. Check to
see if the program offers language courses that emphasize rigorous
study and practical use of the language leading to increased
proficiency. Inquire about classroom contact hours and gauge whether
they will be sufficient to increase your language proficiency. Research
the program faculty to see if they are native speakers with extensive
expertise in teaching foreign students.

Consider language learning outside the classroom.
See if the program offers opportunities for living in university
housing or home-stays where the foreign language will be spoken on a
regular basis. Research opportunities offered by the program may
facilitate language learning outside the classroom.

Other Considerations

Think about your costs.
Look at the program’s website to see the cost breakdown. With the help
of your resources listed above, get an idea of costs that may not be
included in the program fees.

Check with your financial aid office. In many cases financial aid may be applicable to overseas study. Visit your financial aid office for more information.

Remember to consider length of study.
When looking for programs, remember that the Boren Scholarship gives
preference to those proposing a full-year (6 months or more) of
in-program academic study. The minimum program length requirement for
most applicants is one semester, although students majoring in the STEM
fields may go overseas for as little as 8 weeks.

Consider the academic content of the program.
While language study should be a substantial component of your program,
consider looking into the additional academic coursework offered by the
program. Many programs include a language component, while also
incorporating other academic courses pertaining to specific fields of
interest. Think about your field of study and what makes sense to you.

Consider the in-country program support system.
Some programs have full-time U.S. resident directors who help to
overseas the academic and cultural programs, while others do not. Think
about the amount of on-the-ground support you would like.